Newly-crowned Jamaican world 100m champion Yohan Blake raced to victory on Thursday in timing a personal best 9.82sec at the Diamond League meeting in Zurich, ousting compatriot Asafa Powell by 0.13sec and American world silver medallist Walter Dix (10.04).
Blake, 21, had raced to gold at the worlds in Daegu in 9.92 following the sensational disqualification of favourite and world record holder Usain Bolt. Thursday's showing was a new personal best for Blake by 0.07sec. Bolt skipped Zurich while Powell was making his return to the track after missing Daegu with a troublesome groin injury. Grenadian teen Kirani James also managed a personal best time of 44.36sec in the men's 400m to add to his just-garnered world title.
"I am not surprised to win in a personal best time, even though I am just back from Daegu," Blake told reporters. "Usain Bolt told me I'd win tonight but to make sure I do it sub-10 seconds," Blake added speaking to BBC Sport. In the women's 800m gold went to Russia's world champion Mariya Savinova in 1:58.27 with silver claimed by American Alysia Johnson in 1:58.41.
Britain's Jennifer Meadows took the bronze in 1:58.92 but South Africa's Caster Semenya could only manage fifth in 1:59.77. World champion Ezekiel Kemboi won the 3,000m steeplechase with fellow Kenyans Silas Kiplagat and Haron Keitany completing the podium. Another world champion winner Thursday was Vivian Cheruiyot, who bagged the women's 5,000 metres in 14:30.10 ahead of Sally Kipyego and Linet Chepkwemoi Barasa in another Kenyan one-two-three.
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